The first few overs of Sri Lanka’s chase of West Indies’ total were a tense affair, with wickets falling early and the pressure mounting. Asitha Fernando, Sri Lanka’s pace spearhead, bowled a brilliant spell, getting rid of West Indies’ talismanic skipper, Shai Hope, and then taking another wicket. Fernando’s delivery, full and slanting back in off the deck, proved too much for Hope, who was caught napping and had his stumps shattered.
Meanwhile, Maheesh Theekshana was proving to be a handful for the West Indies batsmen with his impressive off-break deliveries. He sent back Alick Athanaze with a ripper of a delivery, which gripped and ripped away after pitching, beating the outside edge and knocking over the off stump. Theekshana continued to be a thorn in the side of the West Indies, keeping them on their toes with his variations.
Despite the early setbacks, West Indies managed to regroup, with Keacy Carty and Brandon King showing some resilience. Carty, in particular, looked solid at the crease, defending with confidence and showing good technique against the Sri Lankan spinners.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, however, maintained their discipline, keeping a tight leash on the scoring rate. Theekshana was particularly effective, using his carrom ball and off-break deliveries to good effect, keeping the West Indies batsmen guessing.
As the game progressed, the intensity remained high, with both sides fighting tooth and nail for every run. Sri Lanka’s bowlers continued to bowl with accuracy and purpose, keeping the West Indies under pressure.
Sri Lanka’s fielding was also impressive, with Kusal Mendis, the wicketkeeper, pulling off a crucial catch, holding on to a tough chance off a hard-hit shot from Brandon King.
While the West Indies managed to get past the initial hiccups, Sri Lanka’s strong start and disciplined bowling performance gave them a clear advantage in the chase. The game was poised for an exciting finish, with both teams still in contention for victory.